Dog Training Pet » toy breeds http://www.dogtrainingpet.com Sat, 31 Jul 2010 03:16:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 en hourly 1 Small Dog Training http://www.dogtrainingpet.com/small-dog-training/ http://www.dogtrainingpet.com/small-dog-training/#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:25:33 +0000 Dog Training Pet http://www.dogtrainingpet.com/?p=408

Can I go along for the ride?

All dogs need training, be they small or large breeds. Among the biggest complaints dog trainers are asked to address are: incessant barking, chasing the vacuum cleaner, aggressive behavior toward visitors and other family members, other dogs during their walks, or other dogs and cats in the home. All too often these dogs are “toy breeds.”

If you have a dog that fits this description, it’s very possible that these are some of the causes:

  • Do you take “Buffy” with you everywhere in your purse?
  • Is Buffy pushed in a baby stroller?
  • Do you fail to correct aggressive behavior displayed toward family members, friends or other animals?
  • Do you talk in a high-pitched voice when you want to correct a behavior?
  • Do you allow Buffy to enter the house before you or other family members?
  • Have you ever asked a family member to move so Buffy can sit next to you?

If you are doing one or more of the above, you are in effect creating a monster. Dogs are not human beings and don’t understand all this pampering. They were born and bred to do a job and to be part of pack structure. That pack can be amongst other dogs or in a pack where the owner is the pack leader. But when dogs are elevated higher than humans (due to incessant pampering,) they develop aggression.

If you treat Buffy like she’s a human, this will only serve to confuse her, as this is contrary to what the species is about. It’s cute for you, but it’s anything but cute for your dog. She lives to serve you, not the other way around. But to assume that your toy breed doesn’t need training will only be a disservice to Buffy, you and anyone that comes in contact with her.

Training should be positive, never abusive. Either seek professional advice (most towns and cities have several dog trainers) or peruse the Internet. There are several top-rated dog trainers who share their information either for free or you may buy their DVDs.

Cesar Milan is extremely popular, given that he hosts a weekly television program on the National Geographic Channel. There is also the lesser known but highly effective Ed Frawley whose career started out as a police dog trainer.

Both follow the pack leader approach to training. The packer leader should always be the person who is alpha in the family. This is not gender or age dependent. It could be father, mother, or one of the children. However, it is extremely important that all members of the family treat the dog in the same manner. One can’t be pack leader while others pamper.

The good news is that it is never too late to create a pack, train your dogs and correct previous bad behaviors in both Buffy and you. Dogs live in the moment and if you throw the baby stroller away, Buffy will forget it ever existed.

Photo Credits: adria.richards

]]> http://www.dogtrainingpet.com/small-dog-training/feed/ 0 3 Different Types of Dog Breeds To Remember http://www.dogtrainingpet.com/3-different-types-of-dog-breeds-to-remember/ http://www.dogtrainingpet.com/3-different-types-of-dog-breeds-to-remember/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 07:52:36 +0000 Dog Training Pet http://www.dogtrainingpet.com/?p=163
Hunting Dogs

Hunting Dogs

If you've recently brought a new puppy or adopted dog into your home, you're probably looking into training techniques. Let's face it - while dogs can be fun to have around, they also can cause a little bit of mischief, such as using the bathroom in the wrong places or developing bad habits like chewing. If you want to raise your dog with the healthiest attitude and behaviors possible, then not only are you going to need to understand dog training, you're going to have to learn about your dog's breed, as well. Here are three different types of dog breeds that can help you along.

Hunting Dogs

Hunting dogs include breeds like retrievers - these are dogs that have been bred over the years to function alongside a hunter. Qualities like loyalty, obedience, and teamwork are hardwired into these dogs, so there's a good chance that your hunting breed will respond well if you provide these things.

This isn't to say that you need to be obedient to your dog, but rather that you should train your dog to respond to you. Your hunting breed should respond when you call, be able to fetch toys, and be able to relax with you and your family at the end of the day. These dogs will also be able to handle plenty of exercise, so make sure you give it to them.

Toy Dogs

Almost the polar opposite of hunting dogs, many toy breeds have been bred for how they look rather than how they perform. Dogs like the Chihuahua and the Pug can make very friendly pets, but often can be just as aggressive as the larger dogs if they have a behavioral problem. You have to be wary of letting your toy dog get away with more just because the dog is smaller - it's easy for a toy dog to have an inflated sense of presence and status in your household. Toy dogs are cute, but don't give them any special treatment when they haven't earned it.

Working Dogs

Working breeds tend to be like hunting dogs - huskies and German shepherds fall into this category. Many people forget that many of these dogs have been bred for specific activities, so it can be a challenge to make sure that your dog has enough work to do in its daily life. Again, make sure you provide plenty of exercise and give your dog tasks like fetching toys or coming with you when you go walking, hiking, or exploring.

Make sure to keep these breed types in mind when you train your dog and you can be on your way to giving them a long and healthy life.

Photo Credits: Paul Keleher

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